Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-26
Ten Million Acres More.

There are over 10, 900, coo of acros OF the
finest grazing and farming lands Ia Dakota
lying west and north Of Devils Lake, which
have been withhold from tho operations OF the
homestead and pre-emption laws because OF
the questionable claims of email band of
Turtle Mountain Chippewas TO the land
In January, 1886, Surveyor General Taylor,
OF Dakota, contracted for the surveys of
1,5Oh, 600 acres OF these lands In compliance with
existing relations, but in less than q month,
with characteristic ignorance and perverslty,
Commissioners Sparks issued an order in
definitely postponing the surveys, and
even went 30 far as 10 decline TO
place on file plats Of several townships
surveyed under contracts approved prior
10 the action suspending survey, after
their examination in the fe and their cor
rectness was affirmed Mr.. IL O. Green,
as contractor for those surveys, appealed 10
the Secretary Of the Interior, who has recently
overruled tho Land Commissioners action
and ordered that tho suspended contracts be
approved and plats of surveys already made
be fled in the proper local land offices for
disposal under the land laws. Tho Surveyor
General has instructed the contractors to pro-
coed with the surveys as rapidly as possible
This action causes great rejoicing among
the settlers In the DEVILS Lake land district
hundreds Of whom settled upon unsurveyed
lands after the reversal in 1882, by Secretary
Teller, OF tho order OF Secretary Schurz, made
two years previous, Withholding the lands
from occupancy. Secretary Teller, in his
opinion, now affirmed by Secretary Lamar,
says:
well founded, yet il it should appear on care
full examination Of the facts that such q claim
does exist, it will be the duty of the Govern
ment to make proper compensation to
the Indiana / do not think nearly 10 COO 900
acres Of valuable lands, on which a great
hs siihhsid from tho opsras,ons of the home
stead and presumption laws because ques-
ton has been raised whether the small band
Of Indians mot exceeding three hundred have
claim on this land or not 1t is not con-
tended by anyone that the Government has re-
cognized this claim of the Indians by treaty with
them, and the Indians make no use Of the
land except to roam over it, not cultivating,
think, any Of it"
The vast tract Of land now opened 10 settle
ment possesses natural advantages unsur-
passed by any other part of Dakota. Its lands
are exceedingly fertile, affording the choicest
pasturage, and producing wheat OF tho finest
quality, and rivaling that Of the famous
Saskatchewan country. There Is an abund-
ance OF wood along the streams, providing
cheap lumber, as well as fuel for the erly
settlera Tho extensive coal deposits of the
Turtle Mountains, and in the Mouse River
valley, insure cheap fuel for the future, and
invite manufacturing Industries
The removal OF all barriers TO the settle
ment and development of the country will
hasten the completion and extension Of the
Cando, Bottineau, and other projected branch
Cd Of the Manitoba Railroad Company With
its free lands, wealth and diversity Of natural
resources and present and prospective facili-
ties for reaching the primary markets. we
know OF no region offering 30 many induce
ments to intending emigrantsL
During the next two or three years we shall
witness tide OF immigration into the extreme
northern part of Dakota, and transforma-
tion OF virgin prairies into fine farms, and
homes OF prosperous and happy people,
scarcely cqnaled in the history OF Dakota, and
which was impossible in the settlement Of
other States and Territories. NORTH Dakota